Police raid Premium Times head office, arrests publisher, journalist; Hours after arrest, Police release Premium Times Publisher and journalist on bail

The Nigeria police on Thursday raided Premium Times head office in Abuja, and arrested the newspaper’s publisher.

The publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, was arrested alongside the paper’s judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu.

Plain-clothed officers conducted search at the office shortly after 5p.m. Thursday.

A new report on Premium Times website confirms the arrest of it's publisher and journalist as the Nigerian Police raided the Abuja ofice office of the online journal a few hours ago.

The report reads;

The Nigeria police have raided PREMIUM TIMES head office in Abuja, and arrested the newspaper’s publisher.

The publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, was arrested alongside the paper’s judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu.

Plain-clothed officers conducted search at the office shortly after 5p.m. Thursday, and said they were acting on a complaint filed by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.

The arrests came days after PREMIUM TIMES turned down the army’s demand to retract news stories about the Nigerian Army and its operations.

The paper’s Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, condemned the raid.

“They should stop deluding themselves that they can muzzle the press and intimidate PREMIUM TIMES,” said Mr. Mojeed. “They should know that our loyalty lies with our readers and the Nigerian people who have a right to know.”

He said the paper will continue “to discharge its responsibilities in line with global best practices, social responsibility and patriotism, even at great risk to our personal liberties”.

Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of Premium Times and judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu who were arrested at around 5:00 p.m Thursday evening, have been released. They were released on bail and instructed to report at the FCT Police Command Headquarters by 8:00 a.m. Friday morning. 

The journalists were arrested after several plain-clothed officers raided PREMIUM TIMES office. The newspaper’s managing editor, Idris Akinbajo, hailed the “overwhelming” support from Nigerians and readers around the world. He said the paper would release a full statement after the journalists meet the police on Friday morning.